Carbonizing apparatus



May 5, 1931. G. w. WALLACE ,804,073

CARBONIZING APPARATUS Filed March 15, 1927 I VENTOR 6-1/4 h ATTORNEYPatented May 5, 1931 U; if?) GEORGE XIV/WALLACE, OF SAN FRANCISCO,CALIFOBNIAgASSIGNOR TO THE S. E. COM- PANY, A CORBOR-ATION'OF DEILAVVAREoaasomzine APPARATUS Application filed March 15, 1927.

This invention relates to carbonizing apparatus; and it comprises acarbonizing chamber of the-top fired shaft kiln type constructed with aspaced outer supporting shell of anysuitable material, such assteelplate,

concrete brick work, etc. and an interior suspendedkiln chamber orlining of refractory material, such as fire'brick, spaced from the shelland carried thereby, the said lining being of greater diameter atits-bottom than at the top for the purpose of facilitating withdrawal ofspent shale. etc. after a carbonizin operationythe said lining beingadvantageously arched at its-upper end to provide a dome-likeconstructionand said lincracking and destroying it. It is an object ofthe present invention to provide more durable apparatus of-thistype andto this end I use a double-walledchamber,an outer shell and a linerspaced somewhat from it; with connecting and supporting means permittingdifferential expansion and contraction. The portion of the liner exposedto the greatest temperature change is suspended, allowing a limitedamount of upand-down play. In down draft operation, to which thisinvention is particularly applicable, the greatest Wear is usually inthe portion of the lining above the bottom and below the top. betweenliner and shell gives some thermal insulation.

In the accompanying illustration I have shown, more or lessdiagrammatically, an embodiment of my invention. In this showing:

Fig. 1 is a vertical cross-section of a carbonizing chamber; 7

Fig. 2 is a detail cross-section of a portion The spacing Serial No.175,600.

of the furnace shown-in Fig. '1, drawn on a larger scale; and,

Fig. 3 18 a view-snnilar-to Fig. 2 of another portion of the furnace.

The carbonizing chamber shown in Fig. 1 comprisesa shell or casing 1 ofreinforced concrete, steel, or the like, supported on I- beams 2 and 3,and provided with a lining 4 of any suitable refractory material, spacedsomewhat from the shell; the intervening space being indicated by 5.:The liner may bemade of fire brick or any other suitable refractorymaterial. The space may be left vacant, forming anair chamber-but advantageously I fill it with some good heat insulatingmaterial such asdiat-omaceous earth (silocell, etc). Angle irons 6 and 7 are carried byshell 1, the inwardly projecting portions of such angleirons servin as a-foot ing for the refractory lining. Above these angle irons I haveshown structural steel members 8, (see Fig. 3) which maybe angle ironsor T beams rigidly positioned in the casing 1 and pro ect1ng lnwardly.These serve to support the mid-portion of the lining 4. Members 8 aredisposed arelatively short distance abovemembers 6 and 7, and therebypermit separate removal and replace ment of the lower portion9'0f thelining 4 or of'said mid-portion. lhis mitlaportion requires repair orrenewal often er than the rest of the lining.

At or nearits top the liner is provided with an arched or steppedoffporti on 10, forming a roof having the general appearance of a dome.As stated the liner is somewhatwi der at the bottom than at the top tofacilitate bottom removal of'spent charges, this giving the liner as awhole the general shape of a truncated cone merging into the domed roof'10. This constructionfacilitates expansion and contraction of the lineras a unit, and the taper permits of quick and complete dumping ofspentcharges.

Structural steel members 11 illustrated in 5:5

detaildnFig. 2, aresecured to casing 1 adjacent the dome which'has anoffsetqresting uponthem. Some of the weightofthe liner the dome carryingthe air and gas inlets 17 and 18 and the fuel feeding device 15. Asshown, the members 11 are formed with inwardly projecting flanges orwebs 12, which extend underneath and contact with an overhanging ofiset13 formed on the top 10. This construction possesses the advantage ofproviding a support for the roof which does not interfere with thelongitudinal expansion or contraction of the liner as a whole. It alsopermits of the independent replacement or repair of the mid-portion ofthe liner without affecting the top. Renewal of the mid-portion or ofthe bottom portion of the shaft is by tearing down the brick or otherrcfractory and replacing it.

lVhere the weights to be supported are great additional angle irons orsupports may be positioned at intervals along the height of the liner.

Through the dome passes a hopper feed 15 into which shale, etc. may besupplied from car 16.

Pipes 17 and 18 enter the upper end of the chamber and serve tointroduce air as a down draft. The heat necessary for operation may befurnished by combustion of carbon in upper layers by air thusintroduced. Or air may be introduced by one pipe and gas by the other toproduce flame and localized high temperature. Either the air or gas, orboth, may be diluted with an endothermic agent steam or products ofcombustion to give better control of heating.

The apparatus shown is generally used in a special way of carbonizing inwhich a charge of shale is heater. at the top till a more or lessexothermic carbonizing reaction is instituted and this carbenizingreaction is then propagated downward as a traveling Zone by regulationof the heat above. Tars, oils, etc. travel downward into and throughcooler material ahead of this relatively hot zone and do not suffersecondary carbonization. Methods of this type are described and claimedin my Patent No. 1,536,696, clay 5, 1925.

An inclined and slidable grate 19 is provided at the bottom of thechamber, and immediately beneath it and forming a part thereof is outletpipe 20 for conducting off gases, vapors and liquids formed inoperation. A valve 21 is provided in the pipe 20 for manuallycontrolling the flow from pipe 20 to a main 22. This sliding gratepermits quick and convenient removal of a spent charge.

What I claim is:

1. In an internally fired carbonizing apparatus of the shaft kiln type apartially suspended and partially supported shaft of refractory materialhaving a supported integral dome top and a surrounding spaced sustainingshell carrying said shaft by means of angle irons, coal feeding meansthrough the top of said dome, an air inlet and a gas inlet in said dameand means at the bottom of the shaft for removing gases and vapors.

2. In an internally fired carbonizing apparatus of the shaft kiln typefor carbonizing shale and the like, a vertical shell and a containedvertical dome topped shaft casing of refractory material and made ofclownwardly increasing diameter, spaced away from the outer shell andcarried thereby, the main support being afforded at a point near thedome top whereby parts of the shaft casing therebelow are afforded alimited amount of up and down play.

3. In an internally fired carbonizing apparatus of the shaft kiln typefor carbonizing shale and the like, a vertical weight carrying shellprovided with internal lugs near the top and near the bottom and acontained shaft casing of refractory material and of downwardlyincreasing diameter, spaced away from the outer shell, said shaft beingprovided with a closed top having an offset resting on the upper lugs,said shaft being thereby adapted to replacement of its midportionwithout removal of the top.

4. In an internally fired cabonizing apparatus of the shaft kiln typefor carbonizing shale and the like, a weight-carrying outer shell ofstructural materials and carrying lugs near its top and near its bottom,and a contained integral shaft casing of refractory material, saidcasing having an integral closed top with an offset resting on the upperlugs and a lower middle portion supported by the lower lugs andadaptedto independent removal and replacement.

5. In an internally fired down draft carbonizing apparatus of the shaftkiln type for carbonizing coal and the like, a vertical outer shell anda vertical internal shaft formed of refractory material and having anintegral closed top, said internal shaft being spaced away from theouter shell and sup ported thereby, support being afforded at pointssomewhat below the closed top and also at points somewhat above thebottom of the shaft.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto affixed my signature.

GEORGE 1V. VVALLAOE.

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